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The Russia-Ukraine conflict has been in the news quite often, and so here is a little breakdown of the two countries intertwined past.
Both Ukraine and Russia first began in an empire that existed more than a thousand years ago called Kievan Rus. This conglomerate of states called Kievan Rus was ruled from Kiev (Ukraines present day capital) thus receiving its name. Kievan Rus encompassed majority of present day Ukraine, Western Russia, as well as Belarus.
It existed from 882 to 1240, and during its peak it was one of the wealthiest and most advanced civilization in Europe. Kievan Rus in general was composed of of 4 critical parts, which were, Kiev (Central Ukraine), Vladimir(Northern Russia), Novgorod(Northern Russia), and Galicia(Western Ukraine). This is important, because after the Mongols sacked Kiev, Kievan Rus disintegrated and splintered into these parts.
After the fall of Kievan Rus, a dynasty called the Grand Duchy of Muscovy was established in a newly formed fortress called Moscow (Present day capital of Russia). This new state eventually conquered and incorporated Novgorod and Vladimir along with many of the Northern lands of Rus. And while Moscow was subjugated to the Mongols, the two lived in relative peace, interbreeding (specifically the nobility), and sharing many of each others customs. However, Moscow eventually repelled the Mongolian horde, and became known as the Tsardom of Muscovy.
Kiev and Galicia on the other hand fell under Lithuanian and Polish Rule, so it became separated from their cousins in the north. And here is where a distinct Ukrainian identity was formed which separated them from the northern Muscovites. Eventually, the Ukrainians rebelled and repelled the Poles and formed a military state called the Cossack Hetmanate, which served as their leadership. The Cossack Hetmanate didn't come without a cost. In order to survive and thrive, they made a military alliance with the now established Tsardom of Muscovy to secure their borders.
(This Soviet propaganda poster was created specifically to celebrate that Ukraine and Russia were joined back together at the Military agreement mentioned above between the Cossack Hetmanate and Tsardom of Muscovy, and with this reunification in 1954 Nikita Khruschev the premier of the Soviet Union as a token of supposed brotherhood transferred Russian conquered Crimea to Ukraine.)
(The Cossack Hetmanate)
The Tsardom of Muscovy after creating an alliance with the Cossack Hetmanate, slowly but surely laid claim to all Ukrainian lands, and incorporated them into what was now called the Russian Empire. They eventually disbanded the Cossack Hetmanate under Catherine the Great and began repressing all of Ukrainian traditions and foundations, which included language, history, and culture, claiming that only one nation of Russia existed, and that Ukrainians were and are Russians.
Eventually the Russian Federation would implode in 1917. A Revolution brought about by Lenin disposed of the royal family and created the Soviet Union. Vladimir Lenin, who was an intelligent man and understood that many ethnic groups existed within the Russian Federation, created the rough land borders for all of the Soviet States, granting and encouraging each ones culture, language, and traditions.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia could not get over losing all of this territory and influence, and thus to this day still feels as though Ukraine is part of it and that it needs to re conquer it. Thus, the reason behind the conflict raging in Ukraine. Russia first annexed Crimea, and now is slowly attempting to re conquer Ukraine, to return to its imperialistic glory.
Both Ukraine and Russia first began in an empire that existed more than a thousand years ago called Kievan Rus. This conglomerate of states called Kievan Rus was ruled from Kiev (Ukraines present day capital) thus receiving its name. Kievan Rus encompassed majority of present day Ukraine, Western Russia, as well as Belarus.
It existed from 882 to 1240, and during its peak it was one of the wealthiest and most advanced civilization in Europe. Kievan Rus in general was composed of of 4 critical parts, which were, Kiev (Central Ukraine), Vladimir(Northern Russia), Novgorod(Northern Russia), and Galicia(Western Ukraine). This is important, because after the Mongols sacked Kiev, Kievan Rus disintegrated and splintered into these parts.
After the fall of Kievan Rus, a dynasty called the Grand Duchy of Muscovy was established in a newly formed fortress called Moscow (Present day capital of Russia). This new state eventually conquered and incorporated Novgorod and Vladimir along with many of the Northern lands of Rus. And while Moscow was subjugated to the Mongols, the two lived in relative peace, interbreeding (specifically the nobility), and sharing many of each others customs. However, Moscow eventually repelled the Mongolian horde, and became known as the Tsardom of Muscovy.
Kiev and Galicia on the other hand fell under Lithuanian and Polish Rule, so it became separated from their cousins in the north. And here is where a distinct Ukrainian identity was formed which separated them from the northern Muscovites. Eventually, the Ukrainians rebelled and repelled the Poles and formed a military state called the Cossack Hetmanate, which served as their leadership. The Cossack Hetmanate didn't come without a cost. In order to survive and thrive, they made a military alliance with the now established Tsardom of Muscovy to secure their borders.
(This Soviet propaganda poster was created specifically to celebrate that Ukraine and Russia were joined back together at the Military agreement mentioned above between the Cossack Hetmanate and Tsardom of Muscovy, and with this reunification in 1954 Nikita Khruschev the premier of the Soviet Union as a token of supposed brotherhood transferred Russian conquered Crimea to Ukraine.)
(The Cossack Hetmanate)
The Tsardom of Muscovy after creating an alliance with the Cossack Hetmanate, slowly but surely laid claim to all Ukrainian lands, and incorporated them into what was now called the Russian Empire. They eventually disbanded the Cossack Hetmanate under Catherine the Great and began repressing all of Ukrainian traditions and foundations, which included language, history, and culture, claiming that only one nation of Russia existed, and that Ukrainians were and are Russians.
Eventually the Russian Federation would implode in 1917. A Revolution brought about by Lenin disposed of the royal family and created the Soviet Union. Vladimir Lenin, who was an intelligent man and understood that many ethnic groups existed within the Russian Federation, created the rough land borders for all of the Soviet States, granting and encouraging each ones culture, language, and traditions.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia could not get over losing all of this territory and influence, and thus to this day still feels as though Ukraine is part of it and that it needs to re conquer it. Thus, the reason behind the conflict raging in Ukraine. Russia first annexed Crimea, and now is slowly attempting to re conquer Ukraine, to return to its imperialistic glory.
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0% chance that a half Ukrainian/half Russian new account, speaking perfect English, hating the USA, and immediately becoming friends with Freedom and posting propaganda in the lounge would be a different person.
I'd love to see him on the front line to put him out of his misery...
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